Syphilis rates surge, especially among gay and bisexual men: "Since 2000, when the national syphilis rate sank to a low of 2.1 per 100,000 people after a decade of progress in the 1990s, the rate has soared by 76 percent, the CDC reported. Homosexual and bisexual men accounted for 64 percent of syphilis cases in 2007, up from about 5 percent in 1999. CDC officials expressed concern not only because the recent increases in this bacterial sexually transmitted disease follows years of declines, but also because syphilis can elevate a person's risk of being infected with the AIDS virus and the odds of giving it to someone else."

NYT: Sex diseases in gay men escaping detection because people are ignoring regular testing. "Dr. Kristen Mahle’s study found that among gay men who showed no symptoms of gonorrhea, more than a third of rectal infections with the disease, and more than a quarter of throat infections, were missed because many were not tested at all anatomical sites of recent exposure. Dr. Eric Tai’s study surveyed non-H.I.V.-positive gay men in 15 cities from 2003 to 2005 and found that only 39 percent reported having been tested for syphilis, and only 36 percent for gonorrhea."

Pair of lesbians in Greece hope to become first same-sex marriage there by exploiting a legal loophole: "The two will try to tie the knot under a 1982 law that does not specify that a civil union must involve a man and a woman, said Evanguelia Vlami of Greece's main homosexual association, Olke. The ceremony is to take place in the Kessariani quarter of Athens by a mayor who belongs to the radical left-wing Syriza party, Vlami said. 'I have no objection to celebrating this union so long as the law is respected,' the mayor, Spyros Tzokas, told the Ta Nea daily."

Washington governor Chris Gregoire signs bill expanding domestic partner benefits: "The measure adds domestic partners to sections of laws where previously only spouses were mentioned, including areas referring to probate and trusts, community property and homestead exemptions, and guardianship and powers of attorney. 'This bill is about protecting and helping Washington families,' Gregoire said before signing the bill. 'It simply gives these families the same rights as everybody else. It's the right thing to do.'"

Catholic bishop alleges 'gay conspiracy' against the Church, longs for the good old days when gays were thrown in the clink: The Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine, says a 'homosexual lobby' has aligned itself with minority groups, including Holocaust survivors, to gain persecuted status. He said there was a 'huge and well orchestrated conspiracy' taking place in the 'gay movement', which the Catholic Church neglected 'at our peril'...In an attack on openly gay actor Sir Ian McKellen the bishop said: 'I saw actor Ian McKellen being honoured for his work on behalf of homosexuals, when a century ago Oscar Wilde was locked up and put in jail.' He made the comments during a lecture on 'Christian faith and inconvenient questions' in Glasgow on Tuesday and has since stood by them, 'These groups are defending their position, I am defending mine', he said. 'It is all about a lifestyle alien to the Christian tradition. There is a giant conspiracy against Christian values, an agenda here.'"

Back in July, just after Adam Sandler's I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry was released, I posted about a report in the Brisbane Times that Dan Murphy, the director and co-writer of the Australian film Strange Bedfellows, was concerned that Chuck and Larry filmmakers had ripped off his idea.

"According to the papers, Rob Schneider got a copy of Strange Bedfellows, and gave it to Adam Sandler, who then turned around and made Chuck and Larry. The Aussie company alleges that Sandler's company Happy Madison Productions have "continuously infringed [Bedfellows] copyright by distributing, selling, producing, and claiming authorship" over Chuck and Larry. As it happens, Chuck and Larry grossed $120 million in the U.S., while Bedfellows did about $4.2 million (U.S.) in its native land. The suit seeks unspecified damages."

In Mexico City to promote the opening (are they really still rolling out this film?) of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Adam Sandler told reporters that he would be willing to work with gay rights groups, the AP reports.

Said the actor: ''If I can help anybody in any way, I certainly would.''

A reporter asked Sandler if he thought he might become a "gay icon"...

Kevin James was asked about some reactions to the movie labeling it homophobic: "Of course, we didn't want to offend anybody or hurt anybody.If we can help people too along the way, that would be great."

And Sandler received the obligatory kiss question, which he called "Not bad...He was clean, and he seemed to brush his teeth and all that."

"Apatow says, 'When we first moved in together, very early on he said, 'Let me see your penis.' I was like, 'No! What do you want to see that for?' He's like, 'I just want to know what I'm dealing with.' He wasn't embarrassed about it... He would tell other people 'Judd won't show me it, he won't show me it.' One day I'm going to the bathroom, standing up and I just see Adam over my shoulder. All he says to me is, 'All right, man. All right.' I guess it was all right."

Sounds about right for Sandler, which brings us to Apatow and gives us a chance to share this clip from the upcoming Apatow-produced film Superbad, on a related topic (possibly NSFW):